Tension device for sewing-machines



(No Model.)

W. H. TAYLOR & O. D. OUTTS,

TENSION DEVICE FOR SEWING MAGHINES.

L I f Patented Nov. 22,- 1887,.

v V a f v NlTE States errant @rrrea WILLIAM H. TAYLOR AND CHARLES D. OUTTS, OF FORT FAIBFIELD, MAINE.

TENSION DEVICE FOR SEWING-MACHINES SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 373,760, dated November 22, 1887.

Applicath n filed June 21, 1886. Serial No. 205,753.

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that we, WILLIAM H. TAYLOR, and CHARLES D. GUTTs, of Fort Fairtield, in the county of Aroostook and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tension Devices for Sewing-Ma chines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to provide a convenient construction whereby the tension on the needle-thread of asewing-machine may be released, so that the thread may be readily drawn through the eye of the needle when the presser-foot is lifted from the work.

In the drawings hereto annexed, and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents an outline side view of a sewing-machine with our invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an end view of a portion of the ma chine. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 1 1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view on the line 2 2, Fig. 2. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 representdetail views of modified forms of our improved means.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in all of the figures.

The prime object of our invention is to provide an improved construction whereby the bobbin for the shuttle or similar part may be filled or spooled from the same spool from which the needle draws its thread in the operation of sewing without unth reading the needle or removing the thread from the eye of the latter or from the tension device or any of the thread-guides or guideeycs, or without disturbing the position of the goods being sewed under the presserioot, or in any attachment in which they may happen to be.

In carrying out this invention it is essential that the tension to which theneedlc-thread is necessarily subjected in the operation of sewing should be entirely removed from the thread, so that it may be permitted to pass freely from the spool to the bobbin unaffected and nninliuenced by the tension device.

In the drawings, (t represents the bed of the machine; I), the goose-neck or overhanging arm; a, the needle-bar; d, the needle; e, the presser-foot; ff, the spool and spool-pin; g, the balancewheel, and le -the bobbinspooling (No model.)

mechanism, all as is common in certain styles or types of machines, the bohbinspooling mechanism being operated, as is well known, by the frictional contact of a wheel connected with the latter with the periphery of the balancewheel y.

t represents the tension-wheel, around a groove in which the thread is passed in the usual manner, which wheel is mounted upon a pin, j, secured in the side of the frame a. As is common, tensioirwlieeli is kept from rotating freely on its pin j by frictional contact on each of its sides with a disk or ring of felt or similar material, one of which disks of felt rests against the side of the frame a, and the other of which is pressed against the wheel by a spring, L, hearing at one end against a metallic disk, Z, which rests against said last-mentioned ring of felt, and at the other end against a thumb-screw, m, screwed on the outer end of the pin j, whereby the tension on the thread is regulated, all as is well understood by those skilled in the art.

As shown in the drawings, we bore a hole, a, in the rear end of pin j, through to a point slightly beyond the point at which metallic disk Z is mounted thereon, and then form a slot 0, through the pin at a point toward the bottom of the hole a. A short pin, 1), is inserted in hole 72, and another pin, q, passed through slot 0 and the forward end of pin 1), so that the ends of pin q will extend slightly beyond the sides of tension-pin j, and pin 1) can have a longitudinal movement in hole a to the extent allowed by pin q operating in slot 0. Y

9' represents a hook-shaped lever having the straight portion 8 of its hooked end extending through the rear end of hole a and resting against the rear end of pin 12. The main arm of the lever extends out through a cam-shaped slot, t, formed in the frame a, a flattened thumb-plate, a, being formed on the outer free end of lever r. The projecting ends of pin q extend between metallic disk Z and the tension-wheel 2 and the relationship of the parts is such that when the outer free end of lever r is raised cam-shaped slot it will act on the lever in such manner that the end 8 in hole a will be drawn or may be readily pushed ICO rearwardly, so that the projecting ends of pin q will offer no resistance to the movements of without resistance on its pin j.

disk I by spring 70, and the tension devices will operate as though our improvements were not present. WVhen, however, it is desired to release the tension and hold it in released position, as when it is desired to spool a bobbin in accordance with our method, it is necessary only for the operator to press down the outer free end of lever T, when the sides of camslot t will so act thereon as to press the end 8 of the lever against the rear end ofpin p, and thus move the projecting ends of pin q outward,

pressing disk Z away from the adjacent felt or friction disk, and allow tension-wheel i to turn \Vhen it is desired to restore tension to the tension-wheel i, the free end of lever 9" is raised, which will draw back the end 8 of the lever r in the hole n, thus permitting the force of spring it to be transmitted to the said tensionwvhecl, as before.

In Figs. Gand 7 we have have shown a modified form of our improved devices" for releasing the tension. In 'this instance slots are formed at opposite points in the sides of the tension-pin j from the rear outward for a suitable distance, and we spring or slip the arms 0 of a U shaped device having outturned ends to into'said slots, so that the outtnrned ends 10 will bear the same relationship to the pinj and disk Z as the projecting ends of pin 1. In this arrangement the bow of the U- shaped piece will extend around and beyond the rear end of pin j. A lever, 00, provided with an inclined eampiece, 1 opposite the bow end of the U -shapcd piece, is pivoted at its inner end to the frame a of the machine and has its outer end extended through a slot in the frame, as shown. The construction and arrangement of parts in this example are such that when the inner end of the lever is raised, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the bow end of the U shaped piece will rest against thelowest part of cam piece 1 and the tension may operate without interruption or interference; but

when the said end of lever 00 is lowered the inclined cam y, operating against the bow of the U-shaped piece, will press the outturned ends w against disk Z, pressingthe latter outward and allowing tension-wheel "i to turn with freedom.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 we employ the lever w, having the incline g which impinges directly against the inner end of a pin, 19, which operates as shown in Fig. 3.

In these different forms of our invention the tension-releasing lever is an independent lever which does not lift the presser-foot, and when operated to release the tension it holds the tension released until again moved to restore the normal operation of the tension.

Other changes may be made in the form and arrangements of the parts within the limits of mechanical skill without departing from the spirit of the invention.

As will be seen, it is not necessary, in the use of our invention, to raise the presser-foot from the goods being sewed, so that the position of the goods under the presser-foot and relatively to the needle may be left undisturbed.

When in the operation of sewing it is desired to spool a bobbin, the tension is released and held in released position in the manner hereinbefore explained, the balance-wheel is unclutehed from the needle-driving shaft in the usual manner. the thread is severed and drawn through the eye of the needle to the bobbin and spooled thereupon, and when it is desired to resume the operations of sewing the thread between the needle-eye and bobbin is severed, and sewing is at once proceeded with without the trouble and loss of time of threading or unthreading any of the parts.

\Vhat we claim is The combination, with the tension -wheel .1 and its pin having the hole a and slot 0, of

the sliding pin 1), having the transverse pin q, the spring 7c, the thumb-nut m, the lever 1, having the portion 3 extending into the said hole a, and the frame a, having the inclined or cam-shaped slot t, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses,this 8th day of June, 1886.

WILLIAM H. TAYLOR. CHARLES 1). OUTTS.

\Vitnesses:

FRED. S. BURPER, E. Evans SCATES. 

